Ship with £375m cocaine cargo is seized

Police have smashed a London-based drugs gang after a ship carrying a record £375 million of cocaine was seized off the Spanish coast.

Spanish police boarded the 150ft former coastguard vessel, named Destiny Empress, yesterday after it crossed the Atlantic from the West Indies. Armed officers swooped on the boat with support from the Spanish Navy.

The raid was co-ordinated by Scotland Yard's Central Task Force with support from the Spanish police and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency. Detective Chief Inspector Peter Beyer said the cocaine haul was the biggest the Met had ever seized. He added that the drugs were destined for London and the seizure would have an effect on the price of cocaine in the coming months.

"We target the people at a higher level. We want to catch people who import the drugs in large amounts and we have made a huge dent in that," Mr Beyer said.

The gang was linked to a network stretching between London, Spain, the Caribbean and Colombia. The vessel, which had been tracked across the Atlantic from Trinidad, was carrying at least 1.5 tonnes of cocaine.

Its crew was arrested and other arrests have taken place in London.

Source:thisislondon.co.uk/

Speaking Spanish In Spain

One of the best ways to experience a Spanish speaking country is to be able to understand what is being said around you. So, why not learn Spanish? It’s not as difficult as it may sound. You can actually learn to speak Spanish from the comfort of you own home with your personal computer as your teacher. Luckily, there are a number of online programs that will teach you what you need to know to communicate once you get to Spain.

In addition to getting a better feel for the Spanish culture by speaking the language, there are other benefits of leaning the language as well. Once you return home from your trip, being able to be bilingual is very coveted by employers and may open up a whole world of new jobs to you.

Learning Spanish Online

The biggest benefit of learning Spanish online is that you can gear the course to your speed. You do not have to worry about keeping up with the class, you can do as much or as little as you want each time you sit down to learn. When you get on the internet and conduct a search you will notice there are a number of websites that offer Spanish courses from home. Some are free; others will charge you for the classes. Generally, those that charge do have more to offer and a more comprehensive learning program.

The largest worldwide Spanish instruction organization is the Instituto Cervantes. The whole goal of the organization is to promote Spanish culture and the teaching of Spanish worldwide. It was founded in 1991 as a public institution in Spain. Now it is spreading out and is in four continents.

These courses are very detailed. They do teach all the areas necessary for speaking Spanish such as the spelling, grammar, vocabulary and phonetics. But, they also teach the importance of Spanish culture, and about socio cultural issues.

Once You’ve Completed Learning Spanish Online

While taking courses is a good way to learn the language, the best way to know you are ready to use it and to become more fluent is to immerse your self in a situation where you must speak Spanish and see how well you do. Traveling to a Spanish speaking country is a good way to be surrounded by the culture and traditions as well as be surrounded by the language.

There are also programs called language immersion programs in Madrid, Seville and Barcelona. These are considered the by-far fastest way to learn the language and become fluent.

The immersion classes are geared towards smaller groups of students with a number of activities where you must use Spanish and only speak Spanish. In addition to classroom time there are many times you will be out in the public and interact with people, honing your skills.

When it comes to accommodations you may be put in an apartment with another student, or be hosted by a local family which will be a great opportunity to learn the culture of the country first-hand.

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com

Travel in Spain: Great free pocket travel guide of Barcelona

Flashbooking chose to provide backpackers, students and families with a list of budget selected and independent accommodations worldwide, mostly run by locals, in order to promote an alternative tourism respectful of cultures and different societies. For this and other reasons Flashbooking is becoming a recognized source of information and services for who loves creating a trip by him/herself and book bed nights securely online.

Flashbooking cheap lodging solutions are all available for online bookings and divided by Countries. Travellers have free access to the updated list of Europe hostels and budget hotels, North and South America hostels, Caribbean and Central America hostels as well as for Asia cheap accommodations, Oceania youth hostels and Africa hostels.

Flashbooking's happy travellers can book their rooms and beds not only in cheap hotels or cheap hostel Barcelona but also consider other budget accommodations in Bed and Breakfast, Guesthouses, Campsites, apartments, farm houses and much more.

Flashbooking accommodation database is easily available online and comes completed with all relevant information about youth hostel and hotel location and map, description, services, hostel contacts, customer ratings, six pictures and updated prices inclusive of taxes and services together with instant real availability.

Having the reservation final price is also convenient as it does give the transparency our users pretend while booking. Having the final total amount of your booking means you do not have to worry about other extra surprises!

Other reasons to chose Flashbooking? Flashbooking helps you saving money with a special promotion that allows travellers to earn money and credits of 1,5 euros by inviting other friends to subscribe and receive the monthly newsletter, rich of information about hostel and hotel deals. For each friend that sings up, our travellers get 1,50 euros: it is possible to earn up to 40 euros! These credits are immediately registered in the user's personal online account 'My Booking' and at the reach of 40 euros they are automatically deducted to pay your online hostel reservations!!!

With the monthly newsletter, Flashbooking puts at travellers, students, volunteers free disposal some useful pocket travel guides of major European cities: the Amsterdam City guide, the London City guide, the Prague City guide, the Paris City guide, the Rome City guide, the Florence City guide, and the freshly issued Barcelona City guide!! For the Barcelona travel guide Flashbooking staff efforts concentrate on making it simple to read dividing the Barcelona centre in different districts with their relevant amenities.

The Barcelona free travel guide is full of essential hints on where to go, things to see, Barcelona's Museums, Sagrada Familia, Casa Battlò, Casa Milà, Palace of Catalan Music, Foundation Joan Mirò, Picasso Museum, Macba, CCCB, Mnac, shopping mall and flea markets, quality places reasonably priced where to eat Spanish famous tapas, the Catalan cream or drink cava wine, clubs and discos, budget hostels and cheap hotel deals to book, emergency numbers and more. The free City pocket guide of the Catalan City contains, in just 9 printable pages, all the essential information and very good suggestions divided by areas: Barcelona Ramblas, Barcelona Barrio Gotico, Barcelona Example, Barcelona Raval, Barceloneta, Barcelona Montjiuc and Barcelona Rivera.

Barcelona is renown for its open and friendly international people, art museums and Art Galleries, the sea, the movida and cheap lodgings, classic itineraries in the Catalan region and a lot more to make a visit worth wise.

In general, Flashbooking guides have been written for giving the essential information about the most visited cities in the world and in particular for any traveller or first-time visitor. For a short visit, a week-end, a city break, these free pocket guides are useful printable and downloadable tools available online.

In the Barcelona City guide students, families and backpackers can get a large selection of cheap or low cost accommodation with plenty of low cost solutions in budget youth hostels, Bed and Breakfast, guesthouses, cheap hotel deals.

Flashbooking policy tends to privilege small and family-run hotels in order to promote an alternative tourism respectful of cultures and different societies.

So mates, we are looking forward to finding you THE budget accommodation that meets your needs and pocket for your next trip! Last but not least, if you wish to help us, you can either give your personal ratings of some accommodations, lodgings, bed and breakfast Barcelona, youth hostels and budget small hotels where you stayed, or enlarging the hostel offer by reporting some new hostel contacts!

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com

Short History Of San Sebastian

Tourist information - San Sebastian

This city, also known as Donostia, lies along a white sandy bay between the Urgull and Igeldo hills. Fishermen's houses, a smart suburb and modern districts make it one of the most attractive cities on the Cantabrian coast. The Museum of San Telmo, the Peine de los Vientos (Comb of the Winds) and the Kursaal are examples of how the city brings together modern and traditional features. Meanwhile, the province of Guipuzcoa, of which San Sebastián is the capital, blends sea and mountains, offering the traveller landscape, sports and cuisine, as well as interesting monuments. Basque cuisine has a recognised international prestige.

The town centre streets of San Sebastian unfold overlooking the La Concha Bay. Monte Igeldo marks one end of it - a wonderful vantage point for enjoying views over the city. At its feet is Torrepea Point, where the “Peine de los Vientos” ("Comb of the Winds"), a sculpture by the famous Basque artist Eduardo Chillida, is installed. Here Ondarreta beach begins, framed by a garden area and by the Pico del Loro. This was the place chosen by Queen Maria Cristina (18th C.) to build the Miramar Palace, her summer residence. A lovely promenade with elegant railings and street lamps runs along La Concha Beach, on whose sands is the Perla del Océano Bathing Area, a former royal bathing hut. Still looking at the sea, you arrive at the old Casino, nowadays the City Hall. In this area, between the sea and the River Urumea, is the old town and the way to Monte Urgull, the marina and the fishermen's district. The summit of Urgull is dominated by La Mota Castle and a representation of the Sacred Heart. One path takes you upwards while another skirts the hill and takes you along the breakwater.

In the oldest part of San Sebastián, the churches of San Vicente and Santa María del Coro await you, the former Gothic and the latter Renaissance-Baroque. An old Dominican convent is nowadays the San Telmo Museum, whose archaeological and ethnographic collections, together with its paintings, are worth a leisurely visit. These busy streets lead you to the porticoed Plaza de la Constitución. Among its many balconies - numbered and painted white, betraying its origin as a bullring - stands the old Neoclassical City Hall, converted into the Municipal Library.

La Alameda del Boulevard leads into the Romantic city, which emerged after the old walls were demolished. One the banks of the Urumea you can make out the Victoria Eugenia Theatre and the María Cristina Hotel, built in Neoplateresque style. Spread through this rationalist street pattern, you can also visit the Plaza de Guipúzcoa, with its gardens, the Provincial Government building, the Koldo Mitxeleria Cultural Centre and the Post and Telegraph Office. Also, San Sebastian Cathedral, el Buen Pastor, built in Neogothic style. Once again on the bank there are aristocratic houses from the beginning of the 20th century, leading to the María Cristina bridge, the most monumental of those crossing the river. Four lamps by the sculptor Mariano Benlliure light the way to the railway station, designed by Eiffel. On this side of the river are the modern districts of Eguía and Gros. On Gros Beach is the modern Kursaal structure, designed by the architect Rafael Moneo.

San Sebastián is a cosmopolitan city with a strong Basque character, which is clear in its cultural events. The "tamborrada" or "Semana Grande", with its fishing boat regatta, tells us something of the tradition; while its prestigious film and jazz festivals say a great deal about its international vocationAll these are occasions when it is well worth enjoying the city, although you will need to book accommodation in advance.

One of the best ways of touring its districts and approaching its culture is through the cuisine. Basque cookery has international prestige thanks to its raw materials and the skill of its cooks, who have both traditional and imaginative repertoires. It must be said that some of the most renowned restaurants in Spain are in San Sebastián. Recipes made with vegetables, fish and shellfish must always be accompanied by chacolí from Guetaria/Guetariako Txakolina, with its own Denomination of Origin.

The province of Guipúzcoa satisfies the tastes of any traveller, offering a long coastline of excellent beaches and fishing villages, while inland there are natural areas where you can find important historic towns. Going along the coast from France towards Vizcaya you will have the chance to visit the historic centre of Hondarribia/Fuenterrabia, declared a Historic-Artistic Monument, and to stay in its Parador de TurismoOther towns that combine interesting monuments with extensive beaches are Zarautz, Getaria, Deba and Mutriku.

Rivers and valleys lead you inland. Following the course of the Oria, the historic towns of Tolosa, Ordizia and Lazkao preserve important legacies of monuments. The Urola valley has the old town and spa of Cestona/Zestoa, the medieval streets of Azpeitia and the Sanctuary of San Ignacio de Loyola, a Baroque site that is the centre of Basque religious life. Bergara, one of the most smartest towns in Guipúzcoa, and the lovely houses of Elgeta unfold along the Deba valley.

In addition to this wealth of monuments, this Basque province has a natural heritage which is perfect for practising many low environmental impact sports. The Aitzkorri, Aralar, Aiako-Harria and Pagoeta natural parks also show us the quality of their ecosystems.

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com